It was only a few years after my battle with the ooman warrior that gave my symbol a second slash. I continued to travel
with my father, but discussed making my own clan with Tokoma. It was when I was helping my father with a new group of students.
I was chosen as his first blooded. and the Second was M'icli-de, the only female Yautja I'd ever known to hunt. She was taller
than me, but suprisingly, not that much. It was probably why she hunted. She didn't go through the same man hood ritual that
I did, but she did survive a Kainde Amedha Chiva.
I was curiouse. I wanted to learn more about this Yautja-de that joined my father's clan. I've never known any Yautja-de
to be influenced to hunt. So after the ship lifted off., I waited for the students to sleep, along with my father so I could
ask her in person. Because she was a female, she had her own quarters, leaving the blooded quarters all to myself. My father
slept in his private quarters, close to the cockpit. I stealthily moved through the halls and infront of M'icli-de's door,
and before I could knock, she openned the door.
"What is it?" She growled.
Confused, I asked, " How did you know I was here?"
"Simple, you smell like your father, except different. And I heard your talons on the metal." She said, crossing her arms,
impatiently.
"Observent eh?" I said. "How did you come accross our clan?" I asked her.
"Why should I tell you? You're not Joda' Kast. I answer only to him." She said as she backed away from the door, and slammed
it.
Either I wasen't the first to ask her, or she was dealing with the female's monthly problem they have. And I was guessing
the first option. So I went back to my won quarters.
The next mourning, Father directed everyone to the Keh'rite. Everyone but my father was dressed in loin clothes, M'icli-de
wore a clothe top on her chest to look profestional. My father looked honorable with his armor that glinted off the lights.
"My students, welcome to your first day of the rest of your life. Here, you will learn what it means, what it takes to
be men, and warriors. At my right hand as our first blooded, my son Taraka, and to my left, as second, M'icli-de.
"How the tharr did a Yautja-de become blooded?" someone said alloud.
"I chose to follow my own father on a hunt, and completed a Kainde' Amedha'Chiva." She said, not looking at the crowd.
I looked up at her, I should see her over my father. She wasen't but 4 inches taller tahn him, and I was equal heght to my
father.
"Our first lesson," My father spoke, " is basic combat. Someday you might find yourself with no weapons but your claws
and wits. So I highly advise that you learn the art of Jehdin. We will have a demonstration from our blooded. Taraka and M'icli-de."
He said.
M'icli-de cracked her knuckles and stood in the center of the kehrite on the mat. The students where wispering and laughing
as I stood accross from her on the other end of the map. I cracked my own knuckles, and prayed to Paya that I would not enrage
her. I've heard of some really bad incidents from angered Yautja-de's.
"I'm gonna say M'icli-de will win." Someone said from the students. I didn't like it, but I agreed.
I stared at her, as she did with me. We both had blank expressions. But our silence was broken when Father boomed, "PA-OMP!"
In that instant, I leapt at her, and she leapt at me, simontaniously, we kicked each other in the side, knocking each other
back. I swung my fist at her, but she blocked, and attempted to punch back, but I slapped her fist away and attempted to punch.
She caught my fist and tried to punched with the other, but I caught her fist aswell! I could hear both, my knuckles and hers
cracking as we both sqeezed.
Then she kicked me to the ground, freeing us both. While I attempted to get back up, she was already leaping up to land
on me! I rolled to avoid her, and got to my feet. To get an upper hand, I jumped back and posed as if I had a pair of wrist
K'cte-pa, only I had my hand open, with my claws outward. She stanced in Nan dethan guan! The crowd began to laugh and gasp.
My father remained silent, I could tell he wanted neither of us to die in a training session, but if it happened, he would
except it.
My thoughts were broken as I leaned back to avoid her clawed hand in an atempt to scratch my face. I then slashed at her
with my open hand, and missed as she leaned back. She tried to slash me again, but missed. I was so focused on her hands that
I didn't pay attention to her feet, and she tripped me on my back. As I began to get up, I felt her hand grab my ankles, and
she spun me around! Everything was a blurr as I went around and around, untill she through me upward, and I hit the ceiling
of the Keh'rite hard, and landed on the mat just as hard. She bent over with her arm up to finsh me off. as dizzy as I was,
I had enough stamina to use my legs to grab her by her neck, and throw her over me! Students cheered as I got back to my feet
and approuched her as she got up. With my instincts going, I grabbed her by her shoulder, and unloaded a flurry of blows to
her head! Untill I finally sweept her off her feet with a swift motion of my leg. I quickly knelt down and grabbed her by
her throat and raised my arm high to deliver what could have been a fatal blow. She grasped my wrist and stared at me. We
were both breathing really hard, our chest elevating and descending deeply. And for the first time that I'd met her, I stared
at her eyes. They where greenish brown. Her expression was a mixture of anger, and fear. I then let go of her and stood. Everyone
cheered and pounded their chest, declaring Nain-Desintje-Da in my name. They all raved untill...
I helped her to her feet.
M'icli-de stared at me in the face, confused. I said nothing as I returned to my fathers side. She follwed and stoob on
his other side. He was smiling as he said, "That was our 2 greatest warriors in the most honorable jehdin I've seen in many
years. I hope you all have learned from this. I want you all to pair up with a partner, practice, and we will see if you can
fight as well as our blooded." Everyone nodded and began talking within themselves. Father looked at me and said, "Well done,
are you alright?"
"Yes father. " I said with a simple nod.
He turned to M'icli-de and said, "You fought well. Are you alright?"
She didn't speak. She only nodded.
I watched the students fight with their partners. A couple times we had to stop them from killing each other, but other
than that, they observed my fight with M'icli-de well.
****
After everyone had finished fighting, it was time to eat. We were having Sp'ke. My father took his share to his quarters.
M'icli-de and I were responsible for serving the Sp'ke. We got our bowls first, but kept them aside the main serving table.
We served each student an equal share. Once they were finished, M'icli-de and I turned to our bowls. I became angry to see
that one of the bowls had been robbed of most of its Sp'ke. I looked at the students, but all of them had already depleted
their servings down to half. Since I was first blooded, I was to pick the first bowl. I looked at M'icli-de, she looked angry
as well.
"I'm gonna hate myself." I thought to myself as I chose the bowl that was half full. I imagined that it also has spit in
it. I didn't look at M'icli-de, I just took my bowl and sat at our table. Father taught me to respect all women, even if you
didnt like her. I decided to honor him, and cut M'icli-de a break. I ate my Sp'ke within 4 spoonfuls. M'icli-de sat by my
side as I observed the students, guessing which one it was. None of them looked at us.
My train of thought was broken as I heard Sp'ke being poared into my empty bowl. I looked over at M'icli-de who was retracting
her arm.
"Thank you." She said to me as she started on her bowl.
Apart of respect is accepting gifts. So I nodded to her and ate.
****
After the first day of training had passed, I went to my quarters and layed on my bed, wondering what would happen during
the second. But my throughts were broken (again...) by knocking on my door. I openned the door, and was looking at the neck
of M'icli-de. I looked up at her face and asked, "Aye?"
She bowed and said, " I wanted to apologize for last night, and if it was alright with you, talk with you."
I stared at her for several breathes. I decided to continue respecting her and said, "Aye." and moved out of the way of
the doorway. She entered. She scanned my room, seeing several of my trophies from my former hunts. My armor hung off hooks
near my trophies. She looked at me and said, "Why didn't you kill me?"
I was confused. "Did you want me to?" I asked her.
She paused and said, "No, but I expected it."
I nodded and said, "It wasen't in me. I was taught to respect women. So I figured you weren't a woman to start disrespecting."
I said.
Her look turned to suspicition. "I don't belive it was not in you. It doesen't fit you. I was told you killed 17 oomans
in one day, and was the soul survivor of one of the Temple Manhood ritual hunts. Tell me why you didn't kill me."
I sighed and said, "You really want to know?" She nodded. "Your eyes."
"My eyes?"
"They're beautiful, compassionate eyes. I could never kill one with eyes like that." I said, looking at her eyes. I could
see them better now that I had better lights.
"Please tell me you are joking." She said to me. I shook my head. I was expecting her fist to hit me any second. Insteed
she grabbed me by the sides of my head, and looked sraight into MY eyes. I stared back in hers. I'd never seen a Yautja-de
with eyes like hers. After a few breathes she released me and said, "Did my eyes infuence you to take the lesser bowl of Sp'ke?"
"No. I did that because I dispised whomever it was who did it. I didn't want to please him by falling into his game. Remember,
I was taught to respect women." I said to her.
"I take it you pamper your mother." She said, crossing her arms.
"My mother died in child birth." I said with a slight growl. I turned away from her and stood infront of my trophies.
She walked up to me, putting a hand on my shoulder, "If I offended you, I'm sorry."
"No. I just don't like talking about it. My father told me stories about her. How she used to sing to me while I was still
in her womb. How she was the only mate he felt devotion for. I wanted to know her, but insteed, she was my first kill. She's
the only thing I can think of off hand that I regret." I said, staring at the floor.
"From what I know of you, and seen of you, she would have been proud of you." M'icli-de said.
I reached up and took her hand off my shoulder and said, "Please...just dont talk about it. Say something to take my mind
off it."
"What can I say?" She asked.
"Anything...Tell me why you joined my father's clan." I said, still looking at the floor.
"Well...alright. It's not a happy subject for me, but I guess I should. My father never really respected me or my sisters
that much. He had many mates aside my mother but only had me from her. He thought I was going to be a boy and named me what
he wanted his first son to be named. He never liked me because I was a female. Since I was named a boys name, I wanted to
do what boys did. I was never alloud. After a while I built up determination to do what I wasen't alloud to be. I was alone
for so long. When my father visited my mother, I snuck on his ship and went with him to Lo'ki. He was furiouse with me, but
made a deal. If I could survive a Kainde' Amedha Chiva, I would be alloud to join a clan, if not, I would face thei-de. I
survived. He brought me to your father, and hasen't spoken to me since."
"I see we've both suffered some trama." I said, looking up at her. "How old are you?"
"I'm only 17. I know, I'm supposed to be alot taller than I am. I beleive my name has cursed me to be short."
"Perhaps. But just by fighting you, I can tell you wont need size to survive, I can only imagine that you'll survive more
hunts than most of these students." I said.
She smiled and said, "Thank you. I'd better go back to my room and sleep."
"Alright. I need it too. It was pleasent to talk to you." I said.
She turned around and said, "Aye. I'll see you tommorow." She said with a smile.
When she left, I turned and went to bed.
